The Beginning

Sugar is an indispensible part of our lives. Sugar cane has its origins in Asia, and it was in India that sugar in its crystalline form was first produced around 350 AD.

In Britain however, sugar remained a rare luxury until the Victorian era when sugar became a common accompaniment not only to tea but in cakes, confectionery and beer.

The growing of sugar cane was well understood, but the same could not be said of sugar itself. There are many types of sugars and only in the latter half of the 19th century was the mysterious chemistry of them fully investigated.

The Eastick brothers Samuel, John and Charles, descendants of the French Huguenot Martineau family ran a sugar analytical and consulting practice at Trinity Square in the City of London. At the time there were around 150 sugar refineries in Britain. The laboratory also did a great deal of work for Abraham Lyle who was building a refinery at Plaistow Wharf. The importance of the Easticks’ work and vagaries of road and rail travel between Plaistow and the City, determined Lyle to establish a laboratory at the refinery, which the brothers were invited to set up. In 1882 the first laboratory was built in a loft above the vacuum pans- a beastly hot environment, later moving to an area above the boilers before a dedicated laboratory block was built near the main gate in 1888.

The Easticks continued their reputation for excellence and innovation, having registered more than 11 sugar refining patents since 1880.

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